Dating Your Ibanez Guitar

Ibanez Guitars are probably one of the best
deals on the market at this writing. Ibanez has built some excellent guitars and
offers tremendous value. Over the years Ibanez has consistently developed
new and cool models. I can remember a period in the late 90's when they were
overpriced a little. But they redid their pricing and came back to the market
with some great deals.

Ibanez Guitars For SaleEd Roman will not be undersold on any production model
Ibanez Guitar

702- 597- 0147 Scott Krell Ibanez
Expert !!

Dating Your IbanezWhile dating the appearance and disappearance of various models is not
always precise, fixing the date of individual instruments has for the most part
been a breeze since around 1975 or 1976 when a very logical serial number
sequence was implemented. The serial number consists of a letter and six digits.
The letter represents the month of manufacture; the next two digits are the year
of manufacture: the remaining five digits have an unknown meaning, if any.

Thus, a guitar with a serial number H814657 would translate: H=August:
81=1981; 4657=whatever.

By 1988, at least, the initial letter drops off.

Note, however, that at least one Ibanez sub-brand, the Maxxas, does not
follow this pattern at all.

I called Ibanez myself for further clarification.

Dating Ibanez Guitars or establishing the year they were made is a little
bit tricky. Below is how it was explained to me by Ibanez on 10/22/98.

On all guitars made before and up to 1987 the first two digits of the
serial number would designate the year of manufacture. For example a guitar
manufactured in 1981 would start out with the numbers "81" and if it was made in
in 1985 it would start of with "85".

This is a simple easy intelligent idiot proof system. I have to ask
myself why they modified it in 1987. (It will present problems down the road
guaranteed)

On all guitars made after 1987, The last digit of the year is the first
number of the serial number for example a 1989 guitar would start off with a "9"
and a 1993 guitar would start off with a "3". I ask you how will someone be
able to tell the difference between a 1988 guitar and a 1998 guitar in years to
come.

Problem 1: How will anyone know if it was made
before or after 1987. Theoretically someone in the year 2023 could easily
mistake a 1976 guitar for a 1996.Problem 2: How do
you know what decade you are in. I mean it's simple for us today to tell the
difference between a 1988 guitar and a 1998 guitar but what will they do in the
year 2034 when the want to try to date an Ibanez guitar.